The Argus For The New Year

The Ann Arbor Argus is threescore and one years of age, and it will enter upon the new year prepared to give its readers all the benefits of a long experience in the field of a live, reliable, newsy local family paper. During the year to come it will not only maintain its position at the front among newspapers of its class, but will strive to be better than ever before. Notwithstanding the eclipse of democracy on the ides of last November, the Argus will continue democratie as of yore. All issues discussed in its columns shall have honest treatinent, however, and matters of news will be impartially given. Wfnle it already has the largest circulation of any Washtenaw paper, it will try to deserve a more extended patronage by being conducted in such a manner as to make itself a necessity in every household. At the beginning of the present year it was changed to two papers a week instead of one - one hundred and four papers a year - but the price remained the same, one dollar, thus giving its readers more matter for the money than any other local paper. For the coming year a clubbing arrangement has been made with several other valuable periodicals whereby the cost to paid subscribers may be still farther reduced. The Argus will be furnished with the Semi-Weekly Free Press or the SemiWeekly World, Michigan Farmer, American Gardening, each of which costs a dollar, for Í1.65. The Argus will also be furnished with any two of the above for $2.30, with a year's subscription to the Farmer's Friend thrown in. The Argus will also be furnished together with the American Farmer, the oldest agricultural journal in America, for Ji.io. All the papers mentioned above are strictly first class in their respective unes. American Gardening is an illustrated journal of horticulture, devoted to the work of the garden, fruits, flowers and vegetables, trees and shrubs, the conservatory and the care of the home grounds. Any other leading home or foreign journals will also be furnished Argus subscribers at the lowest rates. You cannot get better rates anywhere than those the Argas will give you. Cali and see. Notwithstanding the loud mouthings of the republicans over the retention of a portion of the differential tax on sugar for the benefit of the trust, the republican senators voted solidly against taking up the bill for its removal. By this act they removed the mask and planted themselves squarely on the side of the trust. They are for the trust first, for party second, and lastly for the good of the nation. Yet these are the fellows who are to save the country from the incompetence of the democracy. Already it is announced that this party of broad and liberal statesmanship will adopt for lts policy in the coming congress a policy of "masterly inactivity" lest it make a record that will hurl it from power in 1896. Nol only is it proposed to prevent the democrats from doing anything during the remainder of the present session, the credit for which would be lost to the republicans, but they propose to do nothing themselves when they come into control. The fact that this duty, which they refuse to allow to be even considered, violates a treaty obligation has no influence upon their partisanship. They want it to stand, because they think it wül help to put the demo-: crats in a hole. Nationai honor is nothing. Party advantage everything. The debate in the house of 1 sentatives on the railroad pooling bill brought out some interesting statements as to the cost of transporting passengers and freight, here and in Europe. According to these figures, quoted from the most reliable authorities, the average cost of transportation here, notwithstanding that ït is generally conceded that our railroad service is the best in the world, is less than in any of the countries named. In Prussia the cost of transporting a passenger a mile is 2.99 cents; in Austria, 3.05 cents; in France, 3.36 cents; in Belgiuni, 2.25 cents; and in the United States, 2.14 cents. Kxact figures for Great Britain were not given, but it was estimated that our rate was about 65 per cent. of the British rate. The freight rate per ton per mile in Prussia was shown to be 1 .32 cents; in Austria, 1.56 cents; in France, 1.59 cents; in Belgium; 1.39 cents; while in the United States it is but .97 of a cent per ton per mile. Had our railways in 1892 received the lowest rate charged in Europe their earnings would have been increased $370,000,000; the available funds for dividends would have been nearly five times as large as they actually were. Since the country turned its attention to the question of monetary reform, one fact has become apparent, vi.., that there is no unanimity of belief even among so-called experts, on monetary questions. In a general way the country seems to be divided into two great schools - one believing that all credit currency should be issued by the banks and the other that it should be issued by the government- but each of these is so irreconcilably divided on other involved points that there seems but little hope of any relief at the hands of the present congress. If it were possible for all parties to take up the issue from the standpoint of the urgent needs of the country, instead of from the position of partisan advantage, it would seem that out ot the various plans that have been brought forward for consideration, one might be evolvcd and perfected that would be an improvement on the present patchwork. On so important an issue it ought to be possible by means of comparisons to pass a measure that would result in speedy advantage to the country. The Turkish government has finally declined to allow our government, through United States Consul Jewett, to make an independent investigation into the atrocities alleged to have been committed recently in Armenia by the Turkish soldiery. It is claimed the reason for this is to be found in the high tensión of public sentiment in this county on the question and the further fact that Consul lewett is the son of a missionary to these people and the consequent fear that the report might be unfriendly . This would seem to be a practical admission on the part of the sultan that the charge are well founded. Were they unfounded he would undoubtedly court an investigation that the charges might be shown to be false and his government placed aright before the civilized world. This turn of the affair wonld imply that the unspeakable Turk is still true to former instincts and that the ideas of the nineteenth century have made little impression upon his fanaticism. The indications at present are that Congressman Burrows will have a walk-away in his race for the short term senatorship. He will no doubt make an average senator. During his long service in the house he has acquired some reputation, although his name, so far as the Argus is aware, has never been connected in any marked manner with any important legislation. He is a man of fair powers, a ready debator and free from charges of official wrong doing, and if elected will owe his election to the reputation he has made for himself in the lower house, rather than to the power of money. Just why he stiould desire to leave the house when his future there appears so bright is not apparent, but probably the lighter labors of the senate coupled with the longer term and the consequent freedom frorr. the turmoil of a 1 ennial scramble for re-election have something to do with it.